Experienced Counseling for Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, and Chronic Illness
Hi, I'm Amy, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at Shift Counseling, PC with over 20 years of experience. I work with teens, young adults, and adults who are feeling lost, overwhelmed, or confused. I can help you sort through your feelings, find the words, and create clarity where there was once chaos.
I've seen and heard a lot over my years as a social worker, including time in some genuinely tough environments: inpatient mental health, hospice, and pediatric oncology. Pain and negativity are always going to be part of life, but I can help you find your way back to joy. I see clients online or in person at our North Riverside office, and virtually throughout Illinois.
Who I Work With
Many of my clients come to me after a diagnosis, a health scare, or years of managing a chronic illness that never really lets up. I understand how disorienting it is when your body stops cooperating with the life you were planning, and how tiring it gets to explain that to people who haven't lived it. I bring patience to that work because I've spent nearly 20+ years sitting with people through some of their hardest health-related chapters, including hospice care and pediatric oncology. I also love helping teens and young adults figure out their sense of identity, and I work with caregivers who are stretched thin taking care of someone else. Whatever brought you in, I want you to feel like you don't have to perform or rush for me. I work with people of all backgrounds and orientations.
What you might be feeling
What you're moving through
Patterns that keep showing up
What Makes My Approach Different
I work hard to earn your trust and help you feel truly heard. You might find yourself opening up about things you never felt you could talk about before, and once you can finally speak about what's been holding you back, it often starts to lose its power over you. Other times, letting things out isn't quite enough on its own. In those cases, I can help you build a plan and figure out what's actually in your control. You don't have to stay stuck.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
To understand how your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors feed each other, and to build practical coping strategies
DBT Skills
Learn skills to help you regulate your emotions and choose healthier responses to stress
To help you steady yourself when everything feels like too much
Therapy can leave you feeling lighter, more confident, and help you reclaim your joy.
Therapy for Adolescents
Most of the time, it's a parent or guardian doing the work of finding a therapist for their teenager, whether the teen asked for help or you scheduled the appointment out of concern for their well-being. Either way, I'd love to help.
How I work with teens:
My office is a bright, fun space, and so is my personality. We can be creative, or even a little silly.
I model openness to a wide range of feelings, which helps teens feel safe when it's time to talk about heavier stuff.
I help teens understand that all feelings, even the hard ones, are normal and temporary, which makes them easier to tolerate.
Parent/Guardian involvement in teen therapy:
Therapy only works if your teen is open to it, so I start by finding goals that matter to them, even if you're the one who booked the appointment. Sessions stay focused on your teenager's needs, though I've found the work goes better with some parent or guardian involvement. I build that in carefully. I talk with your teen about what they're comfortable sharing with you before I invite you into a session, and unless there's a safety concern, I respect their choice to keep certain things private. It's an approach that's worked well over my years with teens.
Counseling for Young Adults
So many young adults are struggling right now. You may still be recovering from losses that occurred during the pandemic, or feeling overwhelmed by the idea of trying to live a normal adult life in today's very abnormal world. Milestones that used to be taken for granted, like getting married, buying a home, having a rewarding career, and starting a family, don't feel accessible in the same way they used to. The world you're trying to figure out how to survive in is not the same world I grew up in. I'm not going to tell you that all of the strategies that worked for me are going to work the same way for you.
What I can offer is a space to be honest about feeling overwhelmed, without shame. Even when things feel out of control, I can help you find what's actually within your reach, and picking one place to start can go a long way toward finding your footing. Struggle and confusion are part of being human, and so are the tools that help people move through them. I can help you find resources and coping strategies that hold up over time.
How I Found My Way Here
My path to this work wasn't a straight line. I completed my degree in Dietetics, hoping to help people managing metabolic conditions like the one I live with myself. Once I got into the field, I realized the dynamic didn't leave room for the kind of honesty I wanted with the people I was working with. Something was missing.
Around that time, a friend of mine was applying to social work programs, and out of curiosity I started reading through her course catalog. I got excited about what those classes covered in a way I hadn't felt in a while, and I knew it was time to change direction.
That decision ended up shaping the rest of my career. I've spent over 20 years working in some of the toughest environments in this field: inpatient mental health, hospice care, and pediatric oncology. Those years taught me how to sit with people in pain without wavering, and how much it means to someone when they finally feel like they can be honest. I bring that same steadiness into every session today, especially with clients navigating chronic illness or a health crisis of their own.
My Training and Background
BA in Dietetics, Benedictine University, 1999
MA in Social Work, Loyola University Chicago, 2002
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Let's Get Started
I'm currently accepting new clients and have daytime, afternoon and evening appointments available Monday-Friday. You can see my schedule and request a time online.
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Reach out.
Use our contact form or book a free 15-minute consultation. On the call you can share what is going on and we can explore how I can help.
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Have your first session.
We will talk through what brought you in and start mapping out what you want to be different.
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Begin the work.
We'll meet in person at the North Riverside office or virtually anywhere in Illinois, in English or Spanish, and build from there.
For insurance, Shift Counseling, PC is in network with BCBS PPO, Blue Choice PPO, Aetna, Cigna, First Health, MyBlue Plus, and Lyra EAP. We'll help you understand your coverage. FSA, HSA, and HRA cards are also accepted.
FAQs
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I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with 20+ years of experience. I earned my BA in Dietetics, from Benedictine University, and my MA in Social Work from Loyola University in Chicago. Before working at Shift Counseling, PC in North Riverside, I worked on inpatient mental health units, in hospice care, and in Pediatric Oncology units. I also have previous private practice experience providing counseling to people with depression, anxiety, and other life challenges. I see adults and teens, and I offer sessions in both online and in person.
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I am able to see clients during the daytime and some evenings Monday-Friday. You're also welcome to reach out directly and we'll let you know what's available.
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It's a short, no-cost conversation where we talk about what's bringing you in and what you're hoping to get out of therapy. You can ask me anything about how I work and decide for yourself whether it feels right. There's no obligation to book after.
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I tend to connect well with people who are feeling lost, confused, or overwhelmed. We’ll start by helping you get things off your chest. Once you are feeling less burdened, we’ll start figuring out what you want to do about the things that are stressing you out. Some things you can’t change, but I can help you find your power and choices.
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Yes. I really enjoy working with teens as well as young adults. A lot of the same things come up: anxiety, depression, major life changes, social concerns, and the pressure of people pleasing. If you're a parent wondering whether your teenager might benefit from talking to someone, feel free to reach out and we can figure out if it's a good fit.
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Yes. I have life experiences and previous work experiences working with people who are suffering from chronic illness and severe illness. I understand the frustration of trying to live your life when you are not feeling your best.
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Yes, I work with people from all backgrounds, but I understand and am welcoming to members of the LGBTQ+ community.
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At Shift Counseling, PC in North Riverside, we're in network with BCBS PPO, Blue Choice PPO, Aetna, Cigna, First Health, MyBlue Plus, and we accept FSA, HSA, and HRA cards. We'll verify your benefits and estimate your out-of-pocket cost before your first session. For current self-pay rates, see our Fees page.
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Yes. I see clients in person at our North Riverside office and virtually throughout Illinois, including Broadview, Westchester, Brookfield, La Grange Park, Berwyn, Forest Park, and Chicago. Many clients mix in-person and virtual depending on their week.
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We see clients by appointment only. Please provide at least 24 hours notice if you need to cancel or reschedule. Missed sessions without 24-hour notice are subject to a $50 fee.
Ready to take the first step?
When you're ready, I'd be honored to hold space for what you're carrying. Reach out today to schedule your free consultation, in-person in North Riverside or virtually anywhere in Illinois.
